Tomorrow starts a new school year! I am so excited! I feel like I used to when I was a kid….lol It’s a busy time, but a fun and exciting kind of busy.

Down two pounds after my first attempts of doing Trim Healthy Mama. My first couple of days were good. Once we started in service at school, it became a bit more challenging. Breakfast and lunch were provided and they were not really on plan. I could have made it work, but I didn’t. Nonetheless I am still figuring it out and down two pounds so I’m ok with that.

I am still reading the book (in the midst of school preparations) and trying new recipes. I will be sharing my thoughts as I go. Tonight I tried the “Good Girl Moonshine.” It was different…but good. It has a long list of benefits and I think I will tweak it a little and try it as my morning drink.

Hope you guys have a blessed week!

My drive to work…loved seeing this and was reminded of God’s mercy and grace shining on us all…

John 8:32
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

I love this verse! It seems like I’ve been hearing it everywhere I go lately. Whether it’s during a sermon, on the radio, or in a book, this verse keeps popping up. More that anywhere else, I’ve been hearing it during my prayer time.

I feel that the Lord has been reminding me that nothing else matters like His truth. We hear all kinds of things throughout the day. In this world we live in, there are many things biding for our attention and asking us to believe in them. The voices from the world tell us their version of truth and if we are not grounded in God’s truth, we will not know the difference.

If you have read my blog for long, or actually if you know me at all (lol), then you are fully aware of my up and down craziness. Not just in weight loss, but sometimes just in life. I’m a bit of a free spirit and I bounce. A lot. I know this about myself. It is who I am. Sometimes that’s ok, but sometimes, it’s a problem.

Because this is part of my personality, (good or bad) I am the QUEEN OF EXTREMES! Over the years, I have gone from one extreme to another. I jump on one bandwagon only to jump on another within days. I admit this. And I also admit…it’s exhausting. At times, I’ve heard, “the truth shall set you free,” and I think “but what’s the truth when it comes to weight struggles?” What seems to be truth one week changes the next. Eat this, don’t eat that, no, wait, we were wrong that’s not bad for you now, go eat a double portion. It’s confusing and I fall right into the trap.

So I started praying and asking God for something practical. I even started going through listing some things that I know to be true.

#1 God wants us to live in freedom, not bondage. Even the best intentions of many pure food plans can cause us to be in bondage.

#2 God designed these miraculous bodies for us and we only get one.

#3 God loves us and wants us to have an abundant life. Satan does not. Period.

As I prayed about some practical steps, something really cool happened. I was getting ready to go on another “cut this out and no more of that” eating plan when something showed up in my mailbox. One of my sweet sisters in Christ sent a book to me called “Trim Healthy Mama.” I must admit, at first I wasn’t up for ANOTHER diet book, so it took me a few weeks to even open it. Then I saw a teacher friend who looked amazing and when I asked what she was doing differently, it was THM. So I decided to check it out and see what the fuss was over.

There were a lot of things in the book that I found interesting. But when I got to Chapter Six, it became very personal and I wanted to know more. Chapter Six is titled, “Truths from the Bible.” As I read through the experiences of the authors, I could totally relate. I saw the similarities of the paths we have all taken. What these sisters have written in their book about their journey reminds me so much of what the past four years of my blog has been. Extremes, Plans, Nutritional Research, the yo-yo could continue for years. Even the spiritual struggle of my relationship with food. It’s all there.

I’m not finished reading the book yet (it’s over 600 pages), but I absolutely feel that it is an answer to my prayer of asking God for some practical steps to take in the journey. I am learning more with each chapter, but so far, what I like is that there are no extremes. There isn’t a preoccupation of numbers and lists. On the contrary, there’s a resounding sense of freedom! There is a focus on seeking Christ and finding freedom in your relationship and balance in your body. There is Hope. Not because of the authors, but because of Truth….truth that sets you free!

I’m still figuring it out, but I am going to start with what I know tomorrow. Moment of truth….this morning I was at 221. I’m not going to race toward a number or set unattainable goals. I am going to bask in His Truth and be set free. Thank you, Father, for hope and freedom. In Jesus name.